If my mother was lawfully married, how could they deprive her of her marital rights ?" "When Lorraine," continued Mr.Bascom, "knew your father was dead, all he had to do was to find a flaw in her manumission, and, of course, the marriage became illegal.

She could not then inherit property nor maintain her freedom; and her children followed her condition." Harry listened attentively.

Things which had puzzled him once now became perfectly clear.

He sighed heavily, and, turning to the principal, said: "I see things in a new light.

Now I remember that none of the planters' wives ever visited my mother; and we never went to church except when my father took us to the Cathedral in New Orleans.